30th Anniversary Run Number 2 - Orange - Tolox

Hares: Rub Her Turd and King Canute
Hash Flash: Sperm Aid
Bus Monitor: Sperm Aid

The Orange Run
2nd longest Run for the Mijas Hash House Harriers 30th Anniversary
A-B Run.

Before the Run:
It was early Saturday morning at Las Palmeras Hotel, and all the Bus Monitors were busy gathering their herd and place them in the “waiting for the bus area” opposite the Hotel. The Orange Run Bus arrived, but several Hashers still hadn’t signed in. Waited a short while, but then had to depart to make room for the next bus.

About 20 minutes into the drive to Tolox, I got a phone call, informing me that 4 of the missing Hashers had turned up at the hotel, not having paid attention to the fact, that the runs had been put forward 1 hour. They got into a taxi, yes a taxi, and drove towards Tolox, so I sent a pin to their driver. Our timing was great, and the bus arrived at the entrance to Tolox in good shape.

RubHerTurd had set off to check the paper, laid the previous day, before the bus arrived. King Canute waited at the starting point, having put down the trailmarkings. These were explained, and then the Hashers were sent off. In the bus I had handed out pamphlets with the name of the B point - end of the run - just in case. About 20 minutes later the taxi with the 4 Hashers arrived and they were sent off. Finally another couple of Hashers arrived in their own car, and off they went.

Time to move the bus to point B, and that went well through the narrow streets of the outskirts of Tolox to the “Balneario de Tolox” - the only medicinal thermal spa in all of Spain. I had a special permission to use the wooded parking area at the Spa, which was perfect for a circle. Lots of time to set up everything and get ready for the first runners to come in.

The Run:
Tolox is situated in the centre of the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park at the foot of the Sierra Blanca and the Sierra Parda - and the trail took the runners downhill into the northern outskirts of Tolox, where they encountered the first of several checks along the creek, with first runners arriving at the water stop “Ermita Senora Virgen de las Nieves” after some 45 minutes- with the walkers getting there after 1 hour 15 minutes.

Natural spring water and time to fill up the water canteens for the 2nd part of the run through the valley and up the steep hills, where the Hares had put down multiple checkbacks to keep the pack together. Fantastic views to the valley below at an elevation of 521 m, and a clear trail to 2nd water+beer stop about 1 hour later, before the descent to the “Balneario de Tolox”, where cold beer, wine, fresh orange juice, champagne and sandwiches were waiting.

The run was recorded to 12,84 Km.

The Circle:
The Mayor of Tolox welcomed all the Hashers to Tolox and explained how the thermal spa had been receiving visitors from all our Europe throughout the years, and he gave out some more brochures of Tolox and surroundings to anyone interested.

The Hares expressed their gratitude for being able to use the “Balneario de Tolox” for the Circle, whereafter the Mayor had a well deserved Down2.

All current GM’s present were invited into the Circle to present themselves, whereafter various Hash acts took place, incuding The Penguin singing, and a wild big couple with a great dance. The Japanese visitors from Samurai and Sake H3 handed over shirts to the Hares and Bus Monitor, presented a super Japanese Hash song and served sake.

The circle carried on for about 1 hour in great sunny weather, before time to board the bus and return to Fuengirola and the evenings activities.

Scribed by RubHerTurd & Sperm Aid